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An Exclusive Interview with Lester Chambersby Luuezz on 2009-10-29 07:58:42 Remove Preview From The Chambers Brothers Band of the 60's An Exclusive Interview with Lester Chambers by Luuezz A Match Made In Heaven Celebrating Woodstock 40 Years Later  While visiting with Sabrina and Charlie Bretchel Tuesday morning, the door bell rang. Not my place to answer it, Charlie swiftly addresses the noise. Just as I turned around, Charlie opens the door and there stood Lester Chambers right in the front of my eyes! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was like opening up a birthday gift - surprise! Charlie had previously called Lester without my knowledge and told him of my arrival. Being the guy Charlie is, Lester agreed to come over. Without delay Charlie says that Lester has turned down many reporters wishing to interview him over the past ten years.  After the interview Lester invited me over to his house the following morning. I didn't have a lot of time that morning. I was pulling out of Copperoplis, California for good. I had many miles ahead to cover, Yosemite Park to see and I had to be back in L.A. in two days. I had just left Charlie and Sabrina's house after seeing the kids off for school. As I was waiting for Lester to boil some water for tea, I walked around his house and admired a gallery of colorful artwork hanging on the walls. Lester and I sat at the kitchen table and drank our tea. We sipped our Lemon Zinger Tea for breakfast as it is his ritual in the mornings. "Red Zinger Tea is better" Lester says, "it will energize your senses and keep you calm". "Just what I need" I thought, for the road ahead. Little did I know I was going to need it, but that's another story. I listened carefully to his very soft spoken voice as he told me story after story of his personal life. That, will not go to print. Soon Dylan, Lester's son woke up from the dead. I had come to see him and take some photographs of the walls, along with some photographs of him and his Dad together for this interview. We all talked for a couple of hours that morning and time went so fast, I had found myself wanting to turn back the clock. I wanted more time to spend with him and Dylan. I wanted to hear more stories of his life... but the road called me. It was an honor that my "self makeup" was enjoyed enough to be welcomed into his private home that following day. Not only did I have a Bikers Inner Circle Interview with Lester Chambers, I made a dear inner circle friend.  Lester and Dylan It was definitely worth the long ass haul in the dark and through the foot hills of the Sierra Mountains to finally pull into Charlie's driveway to spend two rockin' days with his family. All I can say is Thank you Charlie, Thank you Lester and Lucky me. He has been known to play a kick ass harmonica with rhythm and style. The working-class society has always liked music that made them get up and move. I am not talking about the classical music of drama background sounds, with no groovin moves, to lift a spirit from within. Seems Classical music never has been generally popular among the working class, perhaps it is partially due to the fact, one must study the music sheets for many years through education and money. However, on the other side of the music triangle there are a variety of different styles of good music out there. Most of the diversity of music starts with a beat from the drums, as this carries the rhythm with feeling, rather than rules. Some of our greatest musicians in this country are self taught and can't read a note of music. The Chambers Brothers were part of the wave of new music that integrated American traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements, spawning a heady mix integrating all these factors. As they made their way into the flower child culture and the draft dodging of the late sixties, they soon became quite unique artists in their own right, creating their own mix of Soul Music, Psychedelic Rock, Rhythm and Blues - infused gospel soul. Their electric energy produced steadily, such classic hits as "Time Has Come," "People Get Ready," and 'Love, Peace and Happiness." This well known band played a major role in the Evolution and the Legacy of the Vietnam years, Woodstock and the circuit for the 1965 Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. They continued to play at all the big festivals. Lester confessed to me, "everyone thinks we played at Woodstock, but we weren't there. I just want to be able to make that clear and was able to for the first time on ABC Television. Listen to me, I can not let this go any further. I have to let you all know that we were not there, but our agent Lee Housekeeper was there and he found out we weren't going to be able to fly into Woodstock. Because our helicopter was banned from city noise for a while. We intended to just get there by helicopter, whoa...like big shots, run out and do the show and run back to the helicopter whoa...We lived maybe 100 miles away maybe closer in North Stanford, Connecticut at the time and by George we couldn't get there. Their was No Way we could get there. All we could do was sit there and by the time we woke up in the morning, kids were camping out by our house, because they couldn't get there. There were too many people. Ok. So.. we weren't there to all the people who read this "We were Not there, only in Spirit. So we are looking forward to the 40th Anniversary Concert." Lester said. "Besides traveling by helicopter to get to gigs we did have ground transportation but we never had a bus. For starters we did have a big ol' Cadillac once in our career. When that was gone, we moved up to an Ambulance, yea an Ambulance. Jerry Lewis was doing one of his Telethons and we were a part of one particular show. Jerry Lewis would buy a whole fleet of cars and the band ended up with one of those fleets at a very good price. That vehicle carried us around for five years. Then one day it got stolen." Lester said. "They took 'Time Has Come Today' and looped it from what I understand. They made a 40 minute loop of it because I was about to give them stage time and they played it over the PA/Announcements. Now DJ's, Classic Rock DJ's, I ain't calling no names and they'd say to me "It has been a long time since Woodstock Lester. I was there and I enjoyed every minute of it." I would just say "ohh-k- but dude... we weren't there.. we wanted so bad to be there." Which adds to the saying, "If you remember being there, YOU weren't there." Lester said. Not only was Lester the lead man he was the one who kept the band together. He always went the extra mile. If Lester and his band had a gig and it started at nine AM, Lester would be there at seven AM when the doors opened. He'd be sitting off to the side by himself, analyzing, watching and picking up on what was going on. What they were doing and who got together. He'd just pick which little groups he wanted to study as the people came in small groups. But at the same time "They were- I'll meet ya there kind of groups, ya' know? This little group here and this little group there. It soon grows to all of a sudden, a big room full of people. For the last few hours I just observed and watched it as it became one very large group. Wow...Amazing." Lester said. The Chambers Brothers played some very incredible shows with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and The Soft Machine. Jimi Hendrix was promoting The Soft Machine and The Chambers Brothers played several gigs with them. On the shing-ding circuit, the band shared the stage with B.B. King, Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Doors to name a few. The Brothers also appeared several times on the Mike Douglas Show (once with John Lennon and Yoko Ono), Johnny Carson Show, Ed Sullivan Show and every major Television Network that was going on in their time. After having a fun and a successful career that started in 1964, they played at several gigs, coffee houses and concert festival's. The Chambers Brothers, unfortunately went their separate ways in 1972 for good. Looking back, I'm sure the song "Time Has Come" opened up the doors to inspire upcoming musicians to surface. Lester 68, has proceeded on with his passion for music. Since going solo he has released various singles and albums over the years. Lester has also teamed up with Ex Electric Flag (1967) bassist, Harvey Brooks to form the Lester Chambers Harvey Brooks Band. Performing every weekend continues to be a pleasure for Lester. He watches people absorb the energy and they feed it right back at him, looking like ahhh... "if you were a guitar player you'd miss that." said Lester. Over the many memorable years Lester has had the opportunity to read faces, expressions and really learn to entertain the crowd.  Dylan's Grandmother Lester also has been blessed with four successful adult children, two girls and two boys. Both his sons play two instruments each and the music has been carried through the family line. Dylan, who was named after Bob Dylan is the youngest of the four at 22 yrs old. My first impression of Dylan is, he is a good-looking kid with the contemporary look of a flower child.  Dylan His talent covers a broad spectrum of creating art and/or demonstrating his abilities to be a musician and a performer. He resides with Lester and shares the stage performing with his Dad. Charlie Bretchel said to me "That kid's got a lot of talent, he is a very extraordinary kid that can play many instruments from the soul with ease. He takes after his Dad."  Dylan's Art You can purchase Dylan's Art at Lester is considered one of the best by his peers. A lot of his unique techniques come from the grass roots of the cotton fields of Southern Mississippi. When he steps on the stage you are greeted with a familiar face that has aged like a fine wine, gracefully. The music that he brings to the stage continues to make the heart beat and digs deep into ones soul. As a talented harmonica player, songwriter, percussionist extraordinaire, Lester is a historian of Rock-n-Roll. As he is one of the original disciples who survived the Aquarian Exposition Age. Still today as Lester blows a harp, the audience begins to bounce and by the end of the set, the dance floor stomps with rhythm. He is still a genius on stage and the sounds of the harmonica can be heard most clearly, no matter where your standing. With the tones of his harmonica, he sets the mood for his audience and as always, he carries a good beat, with feeling. He speaks mentally through the sounds that can be heard from his harmonica with a silent emotional expression ... exploding. For the 40th celebration of Woodstock "I will be playing with Charlie Bretchel and his band. We are a must see, a must hear and a match made in heaven!" Lester said. How did you meet Charlie, Lester? "Charlie and I go way... back. He was with John Lee Hooker and all those years he mentored Charlie and Charlie benefited from John Lee Hooker's presence. Charlie Bretchel is sooo fine... ahhh...he has got spirit, he's got attitude, oh... he's just incredible. We have done some shows together and they have turned out real good!" Lester said. Lester Chambers and Charlie Bretchel are truly a match made in heaven duo, with guts and precise blues style. They are well versed into more than a handful of songs as writers, their style, reputation, bikers and life. Their great virtuosity is on par with die-hard Rock and Blues fans who appreciate kick-ass biker music, blues and the harmonica rolled into one. Come out and see Lester Chambers and Charlie Bretchel as they are two of the best players of all time, as they travel the road show featuring:  Woodstock's 40th Anniversary Golden Gate Park San Francisco, California Oct 25, 2009 For more Information Click Here Reservations for Booking- Lester Chambers Harvey Brooks Band If YOU bring a Flower You get in Free!  Lester and Luuezz Article and Photography by Luuezz 40 YEARS LATER WITH THE GREAT LESTER CHAMBERS WITH THE CHARLIE BRECHTEL BAND AT GOLDEN GATE PARK SF OCT 25 2009 TIME HAS COME TODAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9WAiHFHrZs Click here for Video plus more! Enjoy... |
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